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CPN calls for censorship of children programmes on broadcasting media
…commends NBC for organising workshop on children programmes
By Ibrahim Adeleke
The Child Protection Network (CPN), an initiative of UNICEF, has expressed concern over the obnoxious images the children are being exposes to on broadcast media especially television.
The organisation called for censorship of the programmes the children are exposed to on the media to protect them physically and psychologically.
Speaking on the Special Workshop for Children Programme organised by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission in Lagos, the CPN Lagos State Coordinator, Aderonke Oyelakin, said it was timely, saying more of such programme is needed in Nigeria.
The Workshop with the theme “Content Inclusiveness in Digital Era” x-rayed the low rate of children programmes and programming on local televisions with local content.
At the workshop, stakeholders discussed how the media can improve and increase children programmes based on local content to preserve Nigerian cultures on their platforms.
They also talked about how to fund such programme as they charged the government on funding.
The NBC stated that despite the policy mandating each station to allocate 10 per cent of the resources to children programmes, only two per cent of them do so.
Meanwhile, Oyelakin noted that instead of putting educative programmes that teach Nigerian children their cultures, they are exposed to different kinds of risks and threats on a daily basis, adding that they are exposes to foreign cultures instead.
She said: “Some of these may harm them physically, and there are many other threats that can cause psychological damages if we fail to protect our precious innocent children from them.
“The media has often been accused of exposing kids to graphical violence and explicit sexual content that often leads to aggressive behaviour and increases the chance of kids becoming sexually active at a young age. This is where the role of censorship in public broadcasting enters the discussion.
“However, I am happy that this event is timely organised by National Broadcasting Commission with the theme: ‘Content Inclusiveness in Digital Era’
“In society today, our children and youths are being exposed to things beyond their capacity and social media is playing a greater role in the life of young people, more than stories and books. This calls for the need to give proper attention to the idea of censoring content.
“So, how much should social media be censored and where does the censorship stop? First, we must understand the reason that we should censor social media amongst other movies inappropriate – to protect the minds, the innocence and purity of our children.
Being a child protector, I and my colleagues have come across several innocent children attracted by social media and movies and are tricked into unsafe situations that have lead to kidnappings, cyberbullying, sex predators,. unhealthy relationships and even death. Additionally, some images posted or videos online can negatively affect a child.
“But we need to understand clearly what is censorship.
“Censorship can be defined as the suppression or deletion of any form of speech or other communicative material that is deemed as harmful, offensive, provocative or unfit for public consumption by a censor.
“CPN Lagos joins other parents and NGOs to emphasize the need to protect children and that the effects of violence in movies and video games, full or partial nudity, vulgar scenes, depiction of criminal behavior, and underage drinking have been inconclusively debated over the years.
“Every stakeholder here today has a responsibility to protect the physical and psychological
well-being of its youngest citizens.
“Consequently, I conclude that the costs of censorship in the name of child protection far outweigh any demonstrable benefits.
“Are you aware that children who are exposed to television violence and sexual content, more likely to be fearful of the world around them and/or more aggressive towards others?
“Critics of media censorship argue that monitoring children’s television viewing is a personal and parental responsibility, and the government and other regulatory bodies cannot assume that kind of responsibility for them. It is the parents’ obligation to stay informed and to nurture their kids with the appropriate behaviors, not by pushing the responsibilities towards a third party.
As for censoring news and current affairs programs on television, critics of censorship believe that similar to adults, children have the right to be informed about what is happening in the world around them.
“Regardless of whether a media censorship is in effect, you, the parents, need to be personally involved with monitoring what your child is watching on television, what video games he or she is playing and what websites they are browsing.
“CPN Lagos implore everyone to be aware of the content of all the media their child consumes to make an informed decision about what your child are restricted and/or allowed to view. Censorship helps give children time to mature in a controlled and safe environment.
“Social media websites can enrich children’s lives, but they can also be hazardous to their mental and physical health” (Hellmich). (Social media sites) “can enhance kids’ creativity and help them develop technical skills. They can also can lead to cyberbullying, depression, and exposure to inappropriate content” (Hellmich).
“Even if the internet can help the children of our society, parents, teachers, and principals need to look at all of the risks and decide whether kids should have unlimited access to everything that is on the internet. Social media sites can be very risky. Parents and other adults need to create rules and regulations to govern and monitor the usage of the internet and the kind of movies played on television. With these restrictions, cyberbullying, depression, and the misuse of these sites can be prevented.
“Teens that use the internet without supervision or rules are more likely to experience cyberbullying. They can also go through depression from believing in everything they read on the internet or see in movies is always reality. Without any restrictions can cause them to misuse the sites and inflict emotional harm to themselves or others through cyberbullying.”
